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Marriage equality bill to be introduced Thursday in Rhode Island

"The drive to
legalize the freedom to marry in Rhode Island will begin anew on Thursday, with
the re-introduction in the House of a bill to honor the marriages of same-sex
couples.

"In a brief interview on Wednesday, Rep. Arthur Handy,
D-Cranston, said he had already lined up 27 co-sponsors and was hoping
for more, but would introduce the bill no matter what the number on
Thursday in hopes of spurring an early-session hearing and vote on the
measure.

"Besides Handy, the other lead sponsors include
Representatives Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, Edith Ajello, D-Providence,
Deborah Ruggiero, D-Jamestown, and the openly gay House Speaker Gordon
D. Fox, D-Providence, who had said in the days leading up to the start
of the 2011 General Assembly
session that he hoped for a House vote on marriage equality early in
the session, before the lawmakers get wrapped up in the budget and
other issues.

“'I would like it done earlier than later, only
because later you get into budget issues and your focus sort of
changes,' Fox [pictured left] said.

"A freedom to marry bill has never made it
that far before, and its chances in the Senate remain uncertain, with
Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed confirming again recently that
she remains personally opposed.

"But the political dynamic in
the State House has changed over the last year, with Fox’s election as
House Speaker and the inauguration on Tuesday of Governor Chafee who,
unlike his predecessor, supports marriage for same-sex couples.

"Handy said the
bill he will introduce is identical to one he introduced last year,
declaring marriage to be a 'legal institution recognized by the state
in order to promote stable relationships and to protect individuals who
are in those relationships.'

"It says: 'Any person who otherwise
meets the eligibility requirements [in law] may marry any other
eligible person regardless of gender.' It also says: 'No person shall
marry' a long list of relatives, including a parent, grandparent,
sibling or child of a sibling, and makes clear that no religious
institution would be required to perform a civil marriage if it
conflicted with its teachings.

"Marriage equality is currently
legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont, but is
facing a repeal effort in New Hampshire. ...

"Within
days, [NH] Rep. Jon Brien, D-Woonsocket, has promised to reintroduce
legislation that would take the decision — which he termed highly
personal — out of the hands of the state’s 113 legislators by requiring
a public referendum.

"Handy acknowledges that some legislators who support marriage equality may be torn by the let-the-voters-decide argument.

"Fox opposes a referendum, calling the freedom to marry a civil-rights issue.

“'Civil-rights
issues should be dealt with in the bodies that were elected to do the
work of the people. This is where those decisions should be made,' he
said recently.

“'It’s a very different vote count when you have
a governor that is going to veto it and when you have a governor that
won’t veto it because [then] you don’t have to get the super
majorities” for a veto over-ride."